Despite Final Fantasy’s PAX East debut occurring this weekend, players are already finding themselves face-to-face with multiple new cards from the set already. Over the past few days, three different MTG Final Fantasy cards found their way to the internet. Today, it was the turn of Hildibrand Manderville to be the latest Final Fantasy MTG spoiler.
Hildibrand Manderville
Hailing from Final Fantasy 14, Hildibrand Manderville is the first Final Fantasy MTG card we’ve seen with an Adventure. This could just be a cameo mechanic, but it’s great to see this beloved Eldraine tradition return at all. Adventures, after all, are commonly quite powerful thanks to their ability to essentially function as two cards in one.
Hildibrand Manderville may remind you of one quite competitive card from Wilds of Eldraine. This card is eerily similar to Mosswood Dreadknight, a staple for Standard Golgari Midrange. That archetype may have fallen out of favor, but Mosswood Dreadknight remains a powerful card.
Both Hildibrand and the Dreadknight are rather difficult to truly get rid of. Once they die, both of these cards can cast their Adventure half from your graveyard until the end of the next turn. Unlike Dreadknight, Hildibrand doesn’t draw any cards, mind you, but that doesn’t make it bad. The Adventure side of this card simply creates a 2/2 Zombie, which Hildibrand himself can buff if he’s still on the board.
This is some great flavor for Hildibrand Manderville, who is essentially a Final Fantasy 14 comic relief character. This detective is essentially incapable of solving cases and has returned after he was thought to be dead.
All of that said, Hildibrand won’t be appearing in the main set. This is a Commander card appearing in the Esper Scions & Spellcraft Commander deck. Notably, Hildibrand’s Adventure spell, Gentleman’s Rise, triggers the deck’s Commander Y’shtola, Night’s Blessed, dealing two damage to all opponents while you gain two life. Past that, however, Hildibrand doesn’t do much with the deck’s face Commander. This card will actually find stronger synergies in different places.
Where to Play Hildibrand Manderville
Hildibrand Manderville may not be a Zombie himself, but the ability to create and buff Zombie tokens could give Hildibrand a spot in Zombie Typal Commander decks. With the addition of two new Esper Zombie Commanders in Aetherdrift, his color identity shouldn’t create much of an issue.
Outside of the two Aetherdrift Commanders, Hildibrand would also work in a Varina, Lich Queen deck. Going wide with Zombies is exactly what Varina is interested in doing. Not only is Hildibrand capable of creating multiple bodies, but he can even buff all the tokens you’re swinging in with.
Otherwise, Hildibrand could easily find himself in various token matters Commander decks. Marneus Calgar, in particular, could employ Hildibrand to strong effect. Hildibrand’s tokens will draw cards, and his function as an anthem will buff the large number of tokens appearing in the deck.
Perhaps one Commander that’s a bit off the beaten path that allows Hildibrand Manderville to show his true potential is Ratadrabik of Urborg. Ratadrabik specifically wants Legendary creatures to die, which also happens to be something Hildibrand is interested in. Ratadrabik will create copies of Hildibrand as he dies, which will, in turn, continually buff all your tokens thanks to Hildibrand’s ability. You can create a literal Zombie army of Hildibrand Mandervilles.
A Legality Disappointment?
Hildibrand Manderville would have been a really interesting card to see in the main set, at least mechanically. His character may not be important enough to warrant it, but this could have been incredibly synergistic in a Standard tokens deck. Elspeth, Storm Slayer and Caretaker’s Talent would have made this card quite interesting. Perhaps he could have replaced the Final Fantasy 14 card with a Commander payoff in the main set?
Either way, this is an incredible deep cut for Final Fantasy 14 fans, and a fun new tool for token Commanders to use. Honestly, I’m now really hoping for a gigantic frying pan to appear in the Final Fantasy 14 Commander deck, but that cut might be a bit too deep.
